Merger increases impact for children in West Africa

In West Africa, Plan International is going through a period of transformation as we are merging with BØRNEfonden in Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali and Togo to become stronger together and increase our impact for vulnerable children in the region.

As part of the process to integrate Plan International and BØRNEfonden in West Africa, workshops were held in the 4 countries to pave the way forward. They also helped staff members from each organisation understand the strategic and business implications of the merger process.

Christa Ner­dergaard Rasmussen National Director of BØRNEfonden Togo & Benin said: “Plan International and BØRNEfonden were already partners and know one another well.”

Plan International and BØRNEfonden teams together in Burkina Faso

Realising children’s rights and equality for girls

During the design workshops held in Ouagadougou, Bamako, Cotonou, Lomé, discussions helped identify what changes were necessary to fully contribute to the global objective of realising children’s rights and equality for girls.

Among the items discussed in detail were the development of skills, the new operational and strategic partnerships that will be required and the opportunities provided by the sponsorships styles of each organisation.

Staff from Plan International Mali and BØRNEfonden at a work session

Paul Fagnon, Head of Programmes and Influencing at Plan International Benin says: “We want change which will reinforce the skills of the whole staff, a gender transformative organisation at all levels, and continuous influencing and good work.”

Increased impact

In Mali, Plan International and BØRNEfonden will focus on early childhood development, adolescent sexual reproductive health, employment and entrepreneurship.

Plan International and the BØRNEfonden team at a joint work session

In Benin and Burkina Faso, inclusive quality education, youth employment and adolescent and youth sexual reproductive health are the main priorities.

In Togo, skills and opportunities for youth employment and entrepreneurship, girls’ and young women’s sexual and reproductive health and gender transformative protection of children are the priorities.

The merger will see the experience and best practices of both organisations utilised to create more impact for the children of West Africa.